Systems and methods for controlling a mobile device cover

Abstract

A host mobile device and a mobile device cover for use with the host mobile device are configured to set up the mobile device cover to be used as a specific lighting device. The host mobile device runs a mobile application that provides a graphical user interface that is used to configure the host mobile device and/or the mobile device cover as one or more of the following: a flashlight, a reading light, a selfie light, a panic alert, and a clock.

1 . A mobile phone, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:
 provide a graphical user interface configured to select one or more graphical elements to set up a mobile phone cover to light up according to a selected light pattern, wherein the mobile phone cover is not part of but is communicatively coupled to the mobile phone; 
 cause the mobile phone cover to light up according to the selected light pattern. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the mobile phone and the mobile phone cover are physically separated, the one or more processors cause the separated mobile phone cover to light up according to wirelessly transmitted information relating to the selected light pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected light pattern comprises a flashlight, and the one or more processors cause the mobile phone cover to operate as the flashlight. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected light pattern comprises one of a reading light and a strobe light, and the one or more processors cause the mobile phone cover to operate as one of the reading light and the strobe light. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected light pattern comprises a selfie light that is used with a camera of the mobile phone to take a selfie. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to set up a panic alert. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein, when a panic alert is activated, the one or more processors cause a panic light to be displayed on the mobile phone cover. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile phone according to  claim 7 , wherein, when the panic alert is activated, the one or more processors cause a loud sound or voice to be played on one or both of the mobile phone and the mobile phone cover. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile phone according to  claim 8 , wherein, when the panic alert is activated, the one or more processors cause a phone call to be connected to an emergency phone number or a contact phone number on the mobile phone. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile phone according to  claim 8 , wherein, when the panic alert is activated, the one or more processors cause location information of the mobile phone to be sent to one or more of the following: a police department, a security system, and an emergency contact. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile phone according to  claim 8 , where, when the panic alert is activated, the one or more processors cause a camera of the mobile phone to take one or more pictures or movies. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile phone according to  claim 11 , wherein the one or more pictures or movies are transmitted to one or more of the following: a police department, a security system, and an emergency contact. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to set up an activation of the panic alert, and to set up a physical button on the mobile phone cover to activate the panic alert. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile phone according to  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to set up an activation of the panic alert, and to set up a graphical button on one or both of the mobile phone cover and the mobile phone to activate the panic alert. 
     
     
         15 . A mobile phone cover for use with a mobile phone, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:
 receive information from a graphical user interface operating on the mobile phone relating to setting up the mobile phone cover to light up according to a selected pattern, wherein the mobile phone cover is not part of but is communicatively coupled to the mobile phone; 
 receive information from the mobile phone that causes the mobile phone cover to light up according to the selected pattern. 
   
     
     
         16 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein, when the mobile phone and the mobile phone cover are physically separated, the one or more processors cause the separated mobile phone cover to light up according to wirelessly received information relating to the selected light pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the selected light pattern comprises a flashlight, and the one or more processors cause the mobile phone cover to operate as the flashlight. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the selected light pattern comprises one of a reading light and a strobe light, and the one or more processors cause the mobile phone cover to operate as one of the reading light and the strobe light. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the selected light pattern comprises a selfie light that is used with a camera of the mobile phone to take a selfie. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein one or more processors receive information from the graphical user interface of the mobile phone to set up a panic alert. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein, when a panic alert is activated, the one or more processors cause a panic light to be displayed on the mobile phone cover. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the panic alert is activated, a loud sound or voice is played on one or both of the mobile phone and the mobile phone cover. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the panic alert is activated, the mobile phone makes a phone call to an emergency phone number or an emergency contact on the mobile phone. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the panic alert is activated, location information of the mobile phone is sent to one or more of the following: a police department, a security system, and an emergency contact. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 21 , wherein one or more pictures or movies are transmitted to one or more of the following: a police department, a security system, and an emergency contact. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the mobile phone cover is set up for a physical button on the mobile phone cover to activate the panic alert. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile phone cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the mobile phone cover is set up for a graphical button on the mobile phone cover to activate the panic alert.